Andy Burnham rules out £1,296 charges for people in homes worth £270,000

Andy Burnham has ruled out replacing council tax and stamp duty with a proposed annual land-value charge of 0.48% on a home’s current value—an idea reported as applying to the typical UK property price of £270,000, which would mean £1,296 per year. In response to rumours, the Labour leader told the BBC that “that won’t be happening,” pointing to the next Budget, and his spokesman had earlier denied the plans were under active consideration. Burnham also referenced fairness issues in Greater Manchester versus London tax burdens. Separately, around 15 northern MPs launched a campaign to scrap council tax, with claims it is regressive.